Automatically-operated folding step.



' P. G. WEISS.

AUTOMATICALLYOPERATED FOLDING STEP! APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25,1915- 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Llmwo ATTORNEY.

P. G. WEISS.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FOLDING STEP APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25.1915.

Ru 1 9 1 0O 1 L p A d 6 t n 0 t nw P 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Wl TIVESSES:

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THE COLUMBIA PLmgoGnAPll 60., WAsHlNGToN, D. c

in are rannr FFJWE PAUL GUSTAV WEISS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK T. STITH, OF INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATED FOLDING STEP.

Application filed March 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL GUsrAv WVEIss,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Automatically Operated Folding Step, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to the type of step that is carried by a passenger vehicle, such as an'automobile, car or carriage, on which to enter or leave the vehicle, the invention having reference more particularly to a foldable disappearing step more especially adapted to be used in connection with another step or steps with which the vehicle is usually provided.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved step of such construction as to be adapted to be carried by vehicles for the purpose of enabling persons to easily ascend from the ground to the vehicle body, and which shall be adapted to be automatically folded up so as to not be protruding or obstructive when the vehicle is in motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatically operated disappearing step and controlling means therefor of such construction and arrangement as to be conveniently under the control of the operator or driver of the vehicle at his operating sta tion or seat.

A further object is to provide a vehicle step of such construction as to be adapted to be readily applied to the step or running board of an automobile or other vehicle without requiring material alteration of the vehicle, and which may be folded into small compass under the step or running board and carried without entailing annoying noises due to rattling of parts thereof.

The invention accomplishes the abovementioned and other objects and consists in the combination with a vehicle body of a foldable step of novel construction provided with novel operating and controlling apparatus that extends to the position of the driver or operator of the vehicle; and the invention consists also further in the novel parts, and the combinations and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further set forth in the accompanying claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

leaving the vehicle.

Patented Apr. is, rare.

Serial No. 18,955.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a passenger of the latch for holding the step in proper position for use; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the step on the line B B on Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a top plan of Fig. 4;; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the improvement; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line C G on Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the foot-plate of the step inverted; Fig. 11 is a perspective View of one of the parts of the improvement relating to the anti-rattler; and, Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the base or hanger plate which preferably comprises a part of the invention.

Similar reference characters on the different figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

The passenger automobile or touring car being a type of vehicle on which a low step is particularly desirable more especially for the accommodation of heavy persons or invalids when the vehicle cannot be brought to a permanent stepping stone or block, the invention is illustrated in connection with that type of vehicle. A familiar construction of automobile comprises frame side bars 1 and 2, a floor 3, a body portion 4; having a side door 5, a seat 6 for the operator, a steering column 7, and a running board 8 supported by brackets 9 or otherwise on the side of the frame. The frame has a crossbar 10 rearward of the operators seat and a crossbar 11 forward of the seat.

As preferably constructed the invention comprises a metallic baSe or hanger plate 12 provided with a suitable number of holes 13 to receive securing devices 14 by which the plate is secured to the under side of the running-board or permanent step 8 at the posi tion used by the passengers on entering or The normal forward edge of the 'plate is provided with hinge devices to the supporting.running-board se-,

curely, and so as to be properly spaced apart. Four folding hangers are provided and they comprise two main members 20 and 21 connected to the rod 17 so as to swing thereon, pivots 22 and 23 being connected to the ears 18 and 19 and supporting main hanger members 24 and 25, respectively. The members 20 and 21 are provided with hinge bolts 26 and 27 respectively, a hinge rod 28 having a spacing sleeve 29 thereon, being connected to the members 24 and 25. The front hangers comprise also two members 30 and 31 connected between their ends to the hinge bolts 26 and 27, respectively, and the upper portions have lips 32 and 33 formed so as to engage the backs of the members20 and 21 respectively when the hangers are unfolded, or so that the two members of a hanger are in operative posi- 4 tion. Two hanger members 34 and 35 are rearward hanger members 34 and 35.

connected to the hinge rod 28 and have lips 36 and 37 on their upper portions adapted to engage the backs of the members 24 and 25 respectively. The arangement is such that when the lower portions of the main members of the hangers are pushed forward so as to be inclined, the relatively folding members of the hangers are carried forward also to inclined position on one and the same plane as the main member of the hanger. A step plate or board 38 is provided which preferably is composed of sheet, metal and is provided on its forward portion with downwardly extending plvot ears 39 and 40 to which pivots 41 and 42 are connected, the

' pivots being connected with the lower ends of the foldable members 30 and 31 of the forward hangers. The step plate is provided with integral strengthening ribs 43 and 44 that extend rearward from the pivot ears to the rear edge of the plate. The step plate is provided on its rear edge with hinge members 45 and 46 spaced apart and to which a hinge rod 47 is connected, the rod being connected to the lower portions of tlX stay-link is provided, or preferably three links 48, 49 and 50 are provided and .connected to the hinge rod 17 and also to the hinge rod 47, one. link being between the hinge members and the others at the outer ends of the hinge members. The links have various functions, being so arranged that they with the forward hangers support the step plate in position for use, the links also acting in conjunction with the operating and controlling apparatus of the step. A coupling rod 51 ls connected to the pivot 26 and to the hinge rod 28, a similar rod 52 being connected to the pivot 27 and also to the rod 28, for coupling the knuckle joints of the forward hangers with those of the rearward hangers. \Vhen the hinge rod 28 is forcibly moved rearward the links are swung rearward and upward and limit the rearward movement of the step and its supporting pivots, so that the lower members of the hangers are caused to be folded upward relative to the main members of the hangers, as shown in Fig. 2.

Preferably the folding step is provided with an anti-rattler which comprises a crossbar 53 having arms 54 and 55 that are provided with pivot holes 56 and 57 respectively to receive the end portions of the hinge rod 47. The arms are suitably connected to the lower members 34 and 35 of the rearward hangers so as to be practically fixed thereto, onearm preferably having lugs 58 and 59 embracing one hanger member, the other arm having similar lugs 60 and 61 embracing the other member, so that when the hangers are in folded position the cross-bar is supported under the step plate or member 38. A suitable cushion 62 is interposed between the step plate and the cross-bar, being preferably secured to the latter, so as to prevent noise when the vehicle is in motion.

The operating and controlling apparatus of the step comprises a journal box 63 mounted on a vehicle frame and also a head plate 64 mounted on the vehicle frame adjacent to the drivers station and provided with a journal box 65. A shaft 66 is rotatably mounted in the two journal boxes and has a downward extending arm 67 fixed thereto to which an operating-rod 68 is pivotally connected, the rod being connected also to the hinge rod 28. A coil spring 69 is connected to the arm 67 and also to the vehicle body and normally acts to automatically draw the stop hangers rearward to folded position. A foot-lever 70 is fixed also to the shaft 66 adjacent to the box so as to be in convenient position to be operated. by one foot of the operator or driver of the. vehicle, the foot-lever having a suitable foot plate 71 on its end that is adapted to be engaged by a suitable latch. The head plate 64 supports a pivot 72 on which is mounted a latch bar 73 having a latch head 74 adapted to engage the foot plate 71, the latch bar having an operating spring 75 connected thereto and suitably supported for drawing the latch bar to the foot plate when the foot lever is forced downward.

It should be understood that in adapting the folding step to various vehicles, various modifications in construction and relative arrangement of elements are contemplated within the scope of the accompanying claim.

When the foot lever is released from the latch bar the spring 69 automatically acts to fold the step hangers and maintain them in folded position, so that the hangers and the step are unobstructive and not unsightly. When it is desired to use the step the operator places his foot upon the foot plate 71 and exerts sufiicient force to overcome the resistance of the spring 69, thus forcing the operating-rod 68 forward, the latter swinging the main members of the hangers forward until the foot plate is brought to a stop in horizontal position by the resistance of the links, resulting in the straightening of the hangers. lVhen the foot lever 70 is forced down to the required position the foot plate 71 is automatically engaged by the latch head 74. When the latch head is forced away from the foot plate the foot lever obviously is swung upward or away from the latch by the action of the spring 69.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A folding step including-a step plate, two pivotally supported foldable hangers pivotally connected to the forward portion of the step plate, two ivotally supported foldable hangers pivotally connected to the rearward portion of the step plate and having a cross-bar supported thereby under the step plate, and a cushion between the top of the cross-bar and the under side of the step plate.

2. A folding step including a support, two hangers pivoted to the support, each hanger comprising two members hinged together, a step plate pivotally connected to the two hangers, a coupling rod pivotally connected to the two hangers between the support and the step plate, and an operating and controlling rod pivotally connected to one of the hangers between the support and the step plate.

8. A folding step including supporting means, a rectangular step plate, foldable hangers pivotally connected to the supporting means and also to the corner portions of the step plate, operating and controlling means connected to the foldable hangers between the supporting means and the step plate, and a stay link connected with the supporting means and also with the rearward portion of the step plate.

4. A folding step comprising a supporting plate having two hangers pivotally connected to the forward portion and two hangers pivotally connected to the rearward portion thereof, each hanger comprising two members hinged together, a step plate pivotally connected to all the hangers, two coupling rods pivotally connected respectively to the forward and rearward hangers between the supporting plate and the step plate, a rotatively supported shaft, an arm secured to the shaft, an operating-rod connected to the arm and also to one of the rearward hangers between the supporting plate and the step plate, a supported spring connected to the arm for automatically folding the hangers, a foot-lever secured to the shaft, and a supported latch for engaging the foot-lever to resist the action of the spring.

5. The combination with a vehicle body having an operators station, and a fixed step on the body, of a plurality of foldable hangers pivotally connected with the fixed step, a step member pivotally connected with the hangers for support, coupling rods pivotally connected with the forward and rearward hangers, links connected with the forward portion of the fixed step and the rearward portion of the step member, a shaft rotatively supported by the vehicle body and extending to the operators station, an arm fixed on the shaft, an operating-rod connected to the arm and also with one of the coupling rods, a spring connected to the vehicle body and the arm for drawing the arm rearward to fold the hang ers, a foot-lever secured to the shaft at the operators station, a latch movably mounted on the body at the operators station, and a supported spring connected with the latch for actuating the latch to engage the foot-lever when the latter is actuated.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL GUSTAV WEISS.

Witnesses:

E. T. SILvIUs, M. E. SPARROW.

teptea at this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner o1 ratents. Washington, D. G. 

